Scottish Communists

Scottish secretary Tommy Morrison told Communist Party of Britain congress delegates that the role of the Scottish Parliament would have an "enormous potential to resist the cuts."

He said: "Given that there has been no rioting in Scotland - there is a suggestion that worst excesses have been curtailed by the Scottish government."

But Mr Morrison warned out: "SNP councils have been blaming Westminster when they have allowed terms and conditions to be imposed without the consent of trade unions."

Instead Mr Morrison called on communists to help build local resistance to the cuts through trade councils as they could become "local champions for the community.

"Communists seek to build existing groups in the working class that are grounded in the community.

"Shop stewards are key and need to be directed by trades councils to be effective."

Mr Morrison said that current anti-union laws meant workers could only take legal industrial action in direct "trade dispute.

"But with November 30 many workers realise it is a proxy vote for a political strike against the government's general cuts agenda."

"Our industrial work must be prioritised, creating new communist trade unionists in the mass movement.

"We need to take our Marxist Leninist theory into the movement and help bring down the government before its term is up."

CPB international secretary John Foster pointed out that the party must not forget about defending council housing from Tory attacks.

"Scottish tenants' organisation has effectively gone out of existence," he said.

"We need to try and revive it."

"It will be essential for Unison, Ucatt and Unite to take this up."

"It's the obvious bridge between public sector and cuts in housing and community."

Congress also paid tribute to 80-year-old guest of honour Mary Park who has been a member of the Communist Party and Young Communist League for 61 years.

She warmly congratulated the YCL on its 90th anniversary.

http://www.morningstaronline.co.uk/index.php/news/content/view/full/111371